Qualifier Safwat Saves 5 MP, Marach Notches 300th Win

Egyptian qualifier Mohamed Safwat saved five match points in the Antalya Open first round against Cem Ilkel, beating the home hope 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) on Monday. A second-round clash against Frenchman Adrian Mannarino awaits the 26-year-old Turkish player.

Top seed Dominic Thiem will open his campaign in Antalya against Ramkumar Ramanathan in the second round after the Indian qualifier defeated Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-3, 6-4. Second seed Paolo Lorenzi will face Radu Albot in his opener. The Moldovan beat Joao Sousa 7-6(2), 6-2.

Carlos Berlocq scored an upset win over No. 6 seed Viktor Troicki. The Argentine saved 11 of the 15 break points he faced to win 3-6, 6-2, 6-4. Marcos Baghdatis, a 6-2, 6-1 winner over Nikoloz Basilashvili, and Yuichi Sugita, who beat Matthew Ebden 6-1, 6-3, also advanced.

Oliver Marach scored his 300th doubles match win when he and partner Mate Pavic, the second seeds, beat Victor Estrella Burgos and Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-2.